Aug 2013 http://al-anon.alateen.on.ca/ Volume 35 Issue 3 Statement of Purpose Districts in Ontario South
Open Lines is published quarterly by Ontario South Assembly. This newsletter presents service related news and information to Al-Anon groups in Ontario South to help keep them informed. District 1………...…..Muskoka Personal sharings of recovery should be sent to the Forum. District 2………..…...Georgian Bay Deadline Distribution November 15th December 1, 2013 District 3………..…...Bruce County District 4………..…...Waterloo Region Subscription Rates: In Canada $4.50 (1 year) $8.00 (2 years) District 5……….…....Huron Perth Send NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS / RENEWALS to: Open Lines Coordinator, Address on last page. District 6………..…...London Region All ADDRESS CHANGES please send to Group Records Coordinator address on last page District 7………….....Sarnia Region District 8………….....Windsor/Essex Open Lines New Subscription or Renewals District 9………….....Chatham Region If the date on your envelope is highlighted it is time to renew! District 10…………...Elgin Region If you have an electronic edition I will send an email reminding District 11……….…..Brantford you to renew your subscription. Thanks for all the notes that District 12……….…..Niagara Region you send they make my day!! District 13…………...St .Catharines District 14…………...Hamilton West Please check applicable box District 15…………...Hamilton East
Please make cheque District 16……….…..Mississauga, Oakville □ 1 year 4 Issues $4.50 payable to □ 2 years 8 Issues $8.00 Sharon Reeb District 17……….…..Upper Peel-Halton □ Renewal and send to: District 18…………...Dufferin, York,. Simcoe □ New Subscription 5224 Bridge St. District 19…………...Toronto North Niagara Falls, ON □ Gift Subscription L2E 2T3 District 20……….…. Toronto West District 21…………...Toronto Central District 22…………...Scarborough What would you like to see? District 23…………...Lakeshore District 24……… ...... Kawartha What do you want to read about? District 25…………...Quinte How can Open Lines best serve you and your group? District 26…………...St Lawrence Region District 27…………...Seaway Valley Please let the executive or myself know and we will endevour to answer or look at implementing your request. District 28…………..Ottawa District 30…….… ...Upper Ottawa Valley Contact information for everyone can be found on the last page District 31…………...Loyalist of Open Lines. District 32…………...Kawartha South Thank you.
http://al-anon.alateen.on.ca/ What’s Happening in Area 86?
Date Group Hosting Location Contact Information
October 5th District 31 Crossroads United Church Sue: [email protected] 8:30am regis- 37th Annual Day of Al-Anon 690 Sir John A MacDonald Blvd tration Kingston ON Speakers/ Draws / Baskets Lunch will be provided Oct 19th District 24 949 Hwy 7, Oakwood (west of Lind- Isabel P 705-286-1004 say on Hwy 7) 9:30am Speakers and a silent auc- tion and workshop Lunch provided $7 suggested regis- tration Oct 25-27th Ontario South Assembly Windsor, Ontario http://al-anon.alateen.on.ca
AWSC 2013 ASK IT BASKET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. Should NA (Narcotics Anonymous) members be allowed or asked to speak at an Al- Anon meeting (i.e. Al-Anon birthday meeting with speakers - one Al-Anon and another NA? Is having an NA speaker going against our Traditions?
A. Tradition 6 - "Although a separate entity, Al-Anon should always cooperate with Alco- holic Anonymous." See also 2-page 42 of the Service Manual - Speaker Meetings #2) AA Speaker. Al-Anon's focus is from the effects of alcoholism. NA is an outside issue and does not focus on alcoholism.
Al-Anon Declaration Let it begin with me When anyone anywhere reaches out for help, let the hand of Al-Anon and Alateen always be there and let it begin with me.
Concept Four: Participation is the key to harmony. 2 Delegate’s Report
Hello, my friends,
Friends and family have been on my mind especially since having returned from our International convention in Vancouver. I realize that although my birth family has influenced me in so many ways, it is my family of choice, my Al-Anon family, who guided me and encouraged me to grow and develop into the person that my Higher Power wishes me to be. I am so blessed to be part of this amazing far-flung family that welcomed me and loved me in a way that I could understand and in one where I continue to be nurtured.
I attended my second World Service Conference in April and on the first weekend in June I gave my report on it to the District Representatives, the Area Coordinators and the Executive at the Area Worlds Service Conference which was held at Durham College in Oshawa. My report is now posted on the Area website. Please have a read!
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the many cards, letters of encouragement and love gifts that were sent to me at the conference. I set them up on my desk and around my room. I was able to feel the pres- ence of Ontario South in both a spiritual and concrete way. You were truly with me.
I have had the pleasure of being invited to group anniversaries, a district meeting and a conference to meet with members and to share. I would happily come to your district or group - please invite me.
I look forward to meeting many of you again in October at our Assembly in Windsor. Thanks to the members in Windsor for being of service to Ontario South for hosting us that weekend.
I wish you peace and growth on your journey.
Many Blessings, Jane Hurley Ontario South Delegate, Panel 52
Alternate Delegate’s Report
Trillium 2013, what a great success! Our Area certainly is dynamic and exciting. Coming together is like a fam- ily reunion, and what a great family! The 2013 Trillium Committee did a wonderful job of presenting us with an amazing weekend and we appreciate their dedication and efforts! By the time this edition of Open Lines goes to print Al-Anon’s 5th International Convention in Vancouver will be history. F.Y.I., our 6th Al-Anon International Convention is scheduled for 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland, a little closer to home. Please remember The Forum, Al-Anon’s monthly magazine. Submitting articles and subscribing to the maga- zine are two great ways to support Al-Anon as a whole and boost your own personal recovery. As mentioned in this edition by our Ontario South’s Open Lines Coordinator, we are looking to the membership of Ontario South to give us input on the format and content of our newsletter. Do you have suggestions or ideas of what you would like to see in our newsletter? We really would like and appreciate your feedback. Please remember our Ontario South Executive and Coordinators are available to help and support you, your Groups and Districts of Ontario South in any way we can. Feel free to contact any of us, contact information on the last page of Open Lines. Enjoy the summer!
With much Love & Gratitude Debbie Pangborn 3 Chairperson’s Report
Hello everyone, My name is Michele and in case you didn't know, I'm your Area Chairperson. I hope that this edition finds you well, and finding ways to keep cool. I know that in Ottawa Spring hung on for a long time and now that summer has arrived she is making up for lost time. So much is going on in our Area this year. AWSC has come and gone, and with it some exciting happenings. Your District Reps discussed and voted on having a Task Force put together to find the answers to the questions we have been having around our Trillium Conference. As some of you may recall, last year Carl F. and his committee set out to identify areas of concern around Trillium. They were the "thinkers". From their work came a number of suggestions and as a result we now have a Chairperson to head a team of "doers". Fred R. from District 32 will be assembling a team to research Trilliums date, location, duration, and frequency. He will be asking you the fellowship for your feedback on these items. Please give Fred and his team the support they require to complete this task over the next year as the re- sults could have an effect on our Area Conference. Assembly is just around the corner and this year we will be heading to Windsor. A weekend of fellowship, fun and oh yes!!! Business. Can't forget that important part of the equation. So talk to the Groups in your Districts and see about arranging a bus trip, or a car trip to Windsor. It's cheaper than you think. And speaking of Assembly, next year is a voting year and as such we are looking for submissions from Central Ontario to host Assembly 2014. So ask HP for guidance, put a proposal together and submit your bid. Guidelines for hosting Assembly can be found in the Area Ser- vice Manual. That's all I have to report at this time. I look forward to seeing you all in Windsor.
Hugs in service
Michele Area Chairperson
Secretary’s Report
Greetings my friends!
My name is Jean and it is my privilege to serve as your Area Secretary. I have two home groups: Forward AFG - Thurs- days at 8pm at the Hintonberg Community Centre on Wellington Ave and How It Works AFG - Saturdays at 10am at All Saints Lutheran Church at Pinecrest and the Queensway in Ottawa.
It's been a busy 3 months. At the end of May I attended the Area World Service Committee (AWSC), an annual meeting of OSA executive, DRs, Coordinators and AIS Chairs. The Minutes from that weekend and the reports that were pre- sented are on the Ontario South website (www.al-anon.alateen.on.ca) under "Al-Anon Members/Area Meeting Minutes".
I was fortunate to be able to attend the Al-Anon International Convention in Vancouver at the beginning of July. What an experience! The workshops I attended and the big meetings were all inspirational. I saw many people I knew (friends from Ontario South, other parts of Canada, Florida and Australia) and met new friends too. The next International Con- vention will be in 2018 in Baltimore - reasonably close for us, so start saving up now to attend.
At the end of July, I attended the Ontario South Executive meeting in Guelph. At that meeting we dealt with issues/ concerns coming out of the AWSC and planned the agenda for Assembly. In case you didn't already know, Assembly is October 25 to 27 in Windsor. I n early September, I will be sending your DR, via email, an information package that in- cludes registration information , the agenda and background information for the items that will be discussed. It's your DR's responsibility to get that package to each GR and your GR's responsibility to share the information with your group.
I'm really looking forward to Assembly. I get to see my Al-Anon friends from all over Ontario South. This year, I plan to travel from Ottawa by chartered bus with Districts 26, 27 and 28. I just know we're going to have a lot of fun!
Love and Hugs in Service, Jean McS
4 Treasurer’s Report
Hi: My name is Marg Knights, a very grateful member of Learning to Live AFG in Toronto, and I am your interim treasurer for Ontario South. I have been in this position since mid-March and have to say that I am enjoying the service and meet- ing everyone either in person or through your emails.
I hope you are having a great summer and want to thank everybody for your donations. When you are sending donation please fill in the donation form that can be found in the area manual or online to ensure that donation is recorded to the correct group. Also, regarding the seventh tradition at your group please remember that when you go on vacation your group is still there.
Luv and hugs Marg Knights Interim Treasurer, Ontario South AREA ALATEEN PROCESS PERSON REPORT
The 2013 Supportive Al-Anon Member (SAM) re-certification process is now complete. We have 150 Certified SAM's in Ontario South. Of these, 105 are re-certified and 45 are new SAM's.
The WSO Annual Alateen Group Update is also complete. We presently have 34 active Alateen groups in Ontario South.
I would like to thank all of the SAM's and District Representatives for their co-operation in facilitating this process within the WSO time frame. We are all working together to keep Alateen groups safe by keeping Alateen group and SAM records current.
I look forward to our time together at Assembly in the Fall. In the meantime, I wish you all a safe and serene summer.
Love in Service, Marg McClelland
Alateen Coordinator
Summer is going to be busy!! As I write this I am getting ready for a holiday in Ireland. I have contacted Al-Anon and they are ready to help me get to meetings!! I would like to inform all members in Ontario South that the Ontario South Alateen email account was compromised June 20, 2013. Due to such a breach Microsoft will not permit me access to it. I can’t retrieve anything. To all those that re- ceived the urgent email which appeared to be from me, it was a hacker looking for your money. I have been forced to open an entirely new email account which I include with this article. IF anyone sent me an email from June 21 and until now, please resend to the NEW email address. SAM’s and District Reps, Ontario South Executive, I would appreciate an email to the new account so I can begin to input all my contacts again. At this time, final arrangements for an Alateen Unity Conference are being discussed. A committee was formed at the Trillium Conference in June, in hopes to have an Alateen Unity Conference in September. The intention is to have a flyer (announcement) available for this edition of Open Lines!!! They will need support from all of us. We welcome a NEW Alateen Group starting Monday Sept. 9”Together We Can Make it AFG Alateen Group at All Saints Kingsway Anglican Church Toronto. There is a need for Alateen Sponsor help in Conscecon Ontario, starting this September. IF you are a willing SAM living nearby, perhaps in Bellville, Trenton, Brighton, Colborne and willing to be of support to an Alateen group in Conscecon please contact me directly. Thank you. It would be wonderful if each District would consider focusing their efforts and resources on Alateen in 2014. Here are a few suggestions on how we all can support Alateen. Attend open Alateen meetings at conferences. Be willing to do some Public Outreach service on behalf of Alateen. Support OSAAC and its events, such as Unity Conference.
Yours in Alateen Service: Janet Taylor [email protected]
5 Message from OSAAC
The Ontario South Alateen Advisory Committee (OSAAC) agreed in principal at their Trillium Business meeting to have an Alateen Unity Confernece. At this time June 23, 2013 Peter S from Toronto has agreed to source out a location, date, and has volunteers from Alateen and from Al-Anon to assist him. The OSAAC group conscience was to have Unity in September IF possible with a planning meeting in the first week of July. All District Reps and Group Reps please carry this message to ALL your groups, Alateen members and Supportive Ala- teen Members(SAM) Alateen Sponsors. Please Stay tuned for a flyer with an announcement shortly (AND PRAY!!) Thankyou on behalf of OSAAC Janet Taylor Area Alateen Coordinator 705-429-1740
Group Records Coordinator
Hello Everyone,
It is turning out to be a very HOT summer this year. I have been experiencing a few “glitches” with our system so please bear with me. For some reason not all the changes I send to Denyse are getting through and I am in the process of re- viewing all the changes I have made since the AWSC in May. The changes are being made and they appear correctly in the WSO list so I am not sure what is happening with the Ontario South List. I will be reviewing and correcting the lists as soon as possible. I am also receiving an increased number of spam emails so that may have something to do with the “glitch”. Please continue to send your changes through to me by either online forms or @ [email protected]. This is really the easiest way to send me completed forms. I do receive your emails there as well. When you do send me email changes of information please try to send me your group ID number and District that you are in. I realize you know where you are, but I do not. If you are sending me changes by snail mail the address is Bonnie Ball, Unit 17, 53 Cook St., Acton, ON, L7J 1Z5. You can reach me by phone if you need clarification of something to do with the groups information and the number is (519) 853-3155.
I hope everyone is having a great start to our summer and staying safe. I am also looking ahead to the assembly in Oc- tober and I hope to see a lot of you there.
Yours in Service, Bonnie Ball, Group Records Coordinator.
2013 Trillium
Our 21st Trillium has come and gone. It was an amazing weekend with 500 Al-Anon, Alateen and AA members partici- pating. Members and speakers came from all over North America, Asia and booked 184 room nights. On behalf of your 2013 Committee, thank you for being there and supporting yet another Area 86 Trillium weekend. We had a great time planning and executing the weekend for you. See you next time.
IHS dxo
2013 Trillium Chair Debbie D
6 There were no reports from Archive Coordinator (nothing to report at this time), Literature Coordinator, Public Outreach Coordinator and Website Coordinator.
Open Lines Coordinator
Happy summer to all! As I sit here in my trailer enjoying the birds at the feeders and hearing the sounds of nature. I am able to meditate and keep my focus on my higher power and the wonders that this program has given me.
Please take the time to respond to the question on the front of this issue. The executive and myself want to be of service to you the Al-Anon member but sometimes a little guidance is needed. We are looking forward to hearing your responses.
Hugs in service Sharon R
From the LDC…
LDC office now has in stock 2 newly released pieces of literature.
S-72 Conflict Resolution – using our Traditions cost $6.00. This is ideal for all members in learning how to apply the Traditions in our lives.
P-92 Reaching for Personal Freedom – Living the Legacies cost $22.00. This spiral bound 176 page new workbook that provides examples and thought provoking questions to help members apply Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps, Traditions, and Concepts of Service to our personal lives.
Both these items are listed on the June 2013 updated order form found on the Ontario South website.
Assembly is coming to Windsor October 25-27th, if you wish to pre-pay and pre-order literature to be picked up at the event, please have the order and payment to the LDC office by October 15th.
One of the most forgotten pamphlets is P-18 Alateen 12 Steps and Traditions. This pamphlet contains comments and questions for each step and tradition that are applicable to both Alateen and Al-Anon members.
Here are a few ways that groups might save on literature orders:
Consider ordering B-6 and B-16 as B-18 - this saves $2.80 per set. A district can order a box of one book and save 15% on the cost. What is the most popular book in your district? Groups can join together and submit one order and reduce the shipping cost, for example: one order for $100.00 costs $10.00 to ship while an order for $300.00 costs only $13.00. Many districts now have a literature person who submits one order for the district per month. The shipping sav- ings can be substantial for all groups involved.
If you have any questions about the literature available, please contact us by email or phone listed on the last page of Open Lines.
Enjoy the summer while reflecting on a great Al-Anon book,
Ann Kyer Office manager
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